5.38pm CANCELLARA WINS THE THIRD STAGE!!!! Unbelievable, the yellow jersey wearer sprinted out of the peloton and held off a host of big sprinters as they surged past the breakaway group, who might well have won the race had they not spend the last 2km looking at each other. Cavendish is the ninth rider to cross the line.

5.33pm All the riders can now be seen on the same stretch of straight road. The four are watching each other warily. Willems is by far the most likely to launch another attack, but he needs to do it soon as they're now only 30 seconds ahead with just under 4km to go.

5.31pm The team cars are drifting to the side of the front group, so they know the swarm is closing on them. 5.7km - 46 seconds is the gap.

5.30pm It really is touch and go. Willems is now the 3-1 favourite - 6.5km to go and the gap is 63 seconds. Can T-Mobile provide an opportunity for Mark Cavendish to contest a sprint today?

5.28pm Frederik Willems attacks! Auge goes with him ... and they slow down. There's 8km to go and the lead is one minute and 15 seconds. Willems may just have committed race suicide as the four won't work together as easily now.

5.25pm "On the arrival in Compeigne the home straight is incredible, at least 500m long. However, 1,200m before that there is a little cobbled road that can take you by surprise. It is a hard left, then a hard right and then 200m of cobblestones. You can find yourself jammed." So says William Bonnet of the Credit Agricole team. The peloton isn't as stretched out as you might expect at this stage.

5.22pm Credit Agricole and Quickstep are doing their best to get Hushovd and Boonen into a position to win the stage, but time is against them now.

5.20pm 15km to go - the gap is down to one minute and 55 seconds. The four look exhausted but they're clinging on.

"Actually having checked wikipedia it appears I was wrong," says Will Plant. Don't worry, Will. It's not the only incorrect fact that's been printed in this space today. "He had the entire armistice site trashed and nicked the railroad car, which was then destroyed later in the war. Sorry, misremembered the detail from my A-level history project from 15 years ago!"

5.15pm The slow pace of the peloton today is being attributed to a protest against the narrow finish yesterday, which they believe caused the 150-man crash. However, they're winding it up now - the gap is down to two minutes and 20 seconds with 20km to go.

5.08pm The leading quartet are working well together, rotating the lead to aid each other rather than playing cat and mouse. They realise they have a realistic chance of staying clear of the peloton. "The end to that story about Hitler bringing the WW1 railway carriage and making the French sign the 1940 surrender in it, was that he then ordered it burned to the ground so that it couldn't be used again," says Will Plant.

5.02pm There's 30km to go and the gap has been extended slightly to three minutes and 22 seconds. Could we have a shock here?

4.57pm "At this point we are going to cut to a commercial break," says the Eurosport commentator, meaning that we miss by far the most interesting aspect of today's race thus far. Great. That's like a football match cutting to adverts when the referee awards a penalty. Ah, they're back in the nick of time. Stephane Auge, who was level on points with David Millar for the King of the Mountains jersey this morning, takes three points for crossing the Cote de Blerancourt first and will be wearing the polka-dot jersey tomorrow. Ladagnous is second, while Willems picks up one point.

4.52pm "David Millar look like he will be losing the KOM jersey v soon," says Mark Seddon. "If Stephane Auge gets in the first three on the fourth category climb coming up then he takes over the jersey. Just thought you'd like to know." Cheers Mark - there's only a few kilometres before we find out.

4.48pm A crash! Albeit a very minor one. Greg Steegmans, the winner of yesterday's stage, was busy stuffing his face with a baguette (or something) when he collided with a Credit Agricole rider. He's back up and riding again now though. "Gareth Jones has made me feel better," says Jonathan Wood. "I've just discovered all my French colleagues are about to disappear for a month too, leaving me on my Jack Jones in Paris. Seriously: a whole bloody month. It's like they never left school. I feel like the last person to notice in that drinking game that everyone's touching their nose." Yeah, I feel a bit like that in here, Jonathan. The longest stage, and the least eventful!

4.40pm An aesthetically delightful sight as, resembling a stream encountering a small rock, half the peloton bends one way round a roundabout and the other half the other way, before smoothly linking up again. CSC, looking after yellow jersey bearer Fabian Cancellara, have pulled the peloton to within two minutes 24 seconds of the breakaway. "Compiegne was also where Hitler had France sign its surrender in 1940 - in the same railway carriage, brought from Paris for the occasion," notes Richard Mulcahy. "Not that he was settling any scores."

4.33pm The leading group now consists of four - Willems, Auge, Vogondy and Ladagnous - and the peloton is beginning to charge. Finally things are lukewarming up. "British connections with each Etape," begins DJ, hinting at what might be to come after the next speech marks. "So Wellington built the park in Ghent (2). Etape 3 - we arrested Joan of Arc in Compiegne." I can also tell you that the forest at today's destination was where the armistice with Germany was signed in 1918.

4.28pm The groupe des poursuivants is now only 20 seconds behind le tete de la course. 53km to go.

4.19pm Liquigas's Frederik Willems and Stephane Auge, of Cofidis, have launched an attack and are closing in on the leading duo - they're now just two minutes and 37 seconds behind, with the peloton a further 40 seconds back. "Tour buffs would realise that there are two orange teams, Eskatel and the Dutch team Rabobank, and not just the one," says Neil. Well done, Neil, you picked up on my, ahem, deliberate mistake.

4.12pm "Does anyone else find watching the tour relaxing?" asks Gareth Jones. "During all the communications problems in the UK étape the other day, all I had to accompany me was the rythmic drone of gears shifting and tyres on asphalt ... sorry I drifted off there. Needless to say, working in France all of my colleagues have gone on holiday and are watching the Tour by the side of the road with a beer in hand. Incidentally - claim to fame. I was in Compiegne around a month ago and they already had the stage arrival panels out. I was on my mountain bike but still sped down the straightaway and dipped like a pro by the yellow flag, before looking around and feeling a little goofy. The sprint should be fun there as the road is quite wide. Does this mean I won the stage?" Yep.

Race winner:

1. Gareth Jones (Gbr)

Does that mean we can ignore the 65km that the so-called professionals still have to run?

4.05pm A chap in an orange jersey (which Tour buffs will know is the uniform of the Eskaltel team) surges clear to pick up the last two points. It's Spaniard Mikel Astarloza, and he's had quite a hair-cut!

4pm It's the Archery sprint, folks. Vogondy and Ladagnous again take first and second (they're four minutes ahead - their smallest lead since they launched the breakaway), with third up for grabs ...

3.52pm Eurosport have scheduled "Athletics: IAAF Super Grand Prix" for 4.30pm BST - there's no chance the stage will be finished by then. "Has anyone pulled out after being involved in the crash yesterday?" asks Matt Clarke. "Fred Rodriguez looked in a bad way." As far as I know, Freddie is fine and still chugging along; but Tomas Vaitkus was forced to pull out of the race yesterday after sustaining multiple fractures of his thumb.

3.45pm Hmm, less happens in the middle of a Tour de France stage than the middle overs of a cricket one-day international. "Harry Dalby (3pm) is wrong", writes Tom Paternoster, adding this bit so that I don't have to [he even added that bit so I didn't have to, but not this bit]. "Robbie McEwen isn't the Aussie national road racing champion. That honour belongs to Darren Lapthorne, who took the crown in January. McEwen has the green and gold capping on his sleeves because he's the former champion." "It's the same for the racers of most countries - they wear the jersey while they're the champ then have the relevant capping on the sleeves once they've lost the title. The former world champions have the 'rainbow' capping on their sleeves," he adds.

3.35pm It could be a very late finish to today's stage. While the riders are usually able to dismount their bikes at about 4pm BST, there's still 87km to go and they seem to have no desire to up their tempo into a strong headwind. The Eurosport commentators are concerned about whether they're going to get any dinner. "Press officer within your fantasy team has got to be best for Gary Naylor," writes Tony Pimlott. "After all he writes half of all columns."

3.25pm The riders have been extremely lazy today (if that's an accusation that can be levelled at a group of people who have already cycled for 141km) - they've been cruising along at 33.7km/hour. However, that's still an improvement on my 7.8 entries/hour.

3.18pm CSC and Liquigas are now at the forefront, but the peloton have slowed their pace to provide Vogondy and Ladagnous with a stay of execution. Their lead is still four and a half minutes, but it's only a matter of time before they are reeled in.

3.10pm Ag2r Prevoyance and Credit Agricole are working hard at the front of the peloton to close up on the leaders - they are now only four minutes and 44 seconds ahead. A Francaise des Jeux car pulls up alongside Ladagnous to give him a drink and the bad news. "Very much enjoying the 'OBO' approach to cycling coverage. Probably works especially well because not much is happening a lot of the time, leaving plenty of room for e-mail fuelled speculation and nonsense," writes Paul Wilson, who as a student ought to know lots about filling "plenty of room" with "speculation and nonsense". "This might be the longest stage in three years, but way back in 1991 Thierry Marie won a stage in a solo break that lasted 234 km, not far off the entire length of today's stage."

3.04pm "What's the latest on the KOM situation?" asks Matt Clarke. "Did the break get the points leaving Millar still in the jersey?" There's only one climb today, Matt, and that's not till the 202nd kilometre.

3pm Latest betting: McEwen 2-1, Boonen 4-1, Hushovd 11-1, Freire 15-1, Cavendish 23-1. Could the Manxman tempt any of you? "Its a wonder anyone in cycling is wearing the team colours at all - you may notice Christophe Moreau wearing the Tricolor colours of the French national champion," writes Harry Dalby. "Robbie McEwen's Aussie national champion status is more subtly displayed with little green and gold armbands around his biceps."

2.52pm With 110km to go, the angry mob is hunting down Vogondy and Ladagnous and are now only five minutes and 49 seconds behind. "Wouldn't it be better to get le maillot jaune [or any of the champion shirts] early in the tour," says Gareth Whitmarsh. "It must get sweaty and particularly stinky by the end."

2.45pm Blimey, when a cyclist's grandfather tells him life's a lot easier than it was when he was a lad, he's not kidding. This year's 236km-long stage is the furthest for three years, but in 1921 the riders had to travel from Les Sables d'Orlonnes to Bayonnes in one day - a distance of 483km (vidiprinter: four hundred and eight-three). The gap is down to eight minutes and 35 seconds .. and it's closing rapidly. "Mr Wassell is harsh indeed!" says Gary Naylor. "Can I be wardrobe assistant for the podium girls?" Not if Daniel Roberts has anything to do with it, Gary: "Naylor should play the role of team sponsor - his name would be emblazoned all over your efforts."

2.37pm The peloton have allowed the breakaway to clock up a gap of 10 minute 10 seconds while slowing down to have a bit of a natter over their working lunch. "Cycling takes this a stage further as alongside the yellow, green, polka dot and white tour uniforms of the category leaders the current world champion wears a Rainbow jersey," observes Niall Howarth. In here we have a dunces cap which performs the opposite role. It suits Smyth best.

2.30pm Interestingly, yesterday's one-two (Steegmans-Boonen) was only the fourth time this century that the first two riders home in a stage were from the same team (Quickstep), and the first for 10 years that they were from the same country (Belgium). That second stat is incredible. "The Premiership champions have a little gold badge to differentiate themsleves from the plebs," writes Matt Clarke, neatly describing Chelsea as plebs. "I always thought this was a bit tacky - the Italian way is better with a little Italian flag worn by the champions. Nothing on wearing the page colour of a paper though." And then, greedily taking a pop at the second ongoing riff as well, he continues: "Naylor sounds like he should take the part of Duffield." I love Duffield. You know he's talking, but you know he doesn't really mind if you don't actually listen to everything he says. A bit like I don't mind if you haven't read every word on this page, so long as you press refresh plenty of times.

2.20pm Approaching the second sprint of the day at Fontaine-au-Bois, one overexcited Agritubel rider, Romain Feillu, hurtles down the outside of the peloton onto the pavement to steal the third and final points, like the annoying bloke who barges into you on his way to diving onto the train - even though the train won't be leaving for a good couple of minutes. "Naylor would be the overactive muppet in the crowd with the comedy giant foam hand who knocks Bull over as he sprints to the line," writes William Wassell. A little harsh, William.

2.15pm The peloton is snaking through a very pretty little town of Ovillers, egged on (not in the Hallowe'en trick way) by crowds three or four deep. Further forward, Vogondy, who rides for the Agritubel team, and Ladagnous, of Francais des Jeux, are eight minutes and nine seconds ahead with 128km still to travel. "In knock-out competitions (such as Wimbledon, the World Cup etc) there is no clear leader really, is there?" says Al Storer. No, Al, but the reigning champion or the world No1 could be honoured with a different kit. "However, in F1 the overal winner from last season drives car No1, so that's kind of similar. And in the Olympic sailing events, the current leaders of the regatta each day wear 'gold' bibs, and have a 'gold' spot on their sail."

2.05pm Another way in which cycling is unique is that when TV directors of other sports introduce the footballers/athletes/horses etc to their audience, it is normally done by a camera moving along the line before the action begins. With cycling, there's such little movement in the peloton that this can be done three hours into the race. Anyway... the CSC team are leading the peloton and are maintaining the gap to the mischievous schemers ahead of them at between eight-and-a-half and nine minutes. "Fascinating insight into the pre-match routines of the GU team," writes Gary Naylor. "If you were a cycling equipe, can I venture some roles? Ingle - Road Captain; Smyth - Domestique (ferrying Relentless to teammates); Bull - Sprinter; Glendenning - Directeur Sportif (bellowing Vamos! Vamos! in the earpiece); Lutz - GC man; Dart - Climber; Doyle - Lead out man (aggresively elbowing others out of the way for Bull); Bandini - Rouleur." And what role would Mr Naylor play?

1.55pm The weather is changing faster than my mind on which pointless simile to stick in here - the peloton is now basking in bright sunshine. Feeling suitably relieved, Vogondy and Ladagnous have extended their lead to eight minutes and 30 seconds. "A General of the Gendarmerie is inspecting the newest recruits at a local barracks," jokes Liam Rooney. "He asks one: 'You are on patrol and you see a motorist going straight through a stop sign - what do you do?' The recruit replies: 'I stop him, note his licence details and issue a ticket.' 'Very good,' replies the General and turns to the next Gendarme. 'You see a motorist doing 80km/h in a 50 zone - what do you do?' 'I stop him and confiscate the licence for having exceed the speed limit by over 25%' 'Excellent,' comments the General and turns to the next. 'You see a motorist drving erratically, you stop him and find that he is three times over the blood alcolhol limt - what do you do?' The reply: 'I start singing "Il est un des nôtres, Il est un des nôtres"'." Boom boom!

1.45pm Eurosport have finally switched to live coverage, thus allowing me a first sight of Fabian Cancellera. I've been wondering why other sports don't follow Le Tour's example and have its leader wear a different uniform to all the other competitors. Instead of being forced to don their whites, the Australian cricket team could wear black, for example. Or Roger Federer could wear bright pink when on court. Thoughts? "How do you get pre-OBO nerves for a bike race?" queries Will Webb. Surely Andrew mean pre-EPO nerves."

1.40pm Not only is today's the longest stage, but it's also tipping it down and the riders are cycling into a 20km/h headwind. The gap between the leading duo, Vogondy and Ladagnous, and the peloton is down to seven minutes and 50 seconds, which can be explained in part because they did a Paula Radcliffe: stopped for a toilet break. Incidentally, 53 riders submitted blood tests this morning and all were clear.

Eurosport are more interested in replaying that crash, so let's delve into the inbox. "I know you've not started yet, but I was just wondering if you get pre-OBO nerves?" writes Andrew Hughes, effortlessly discarding the previous two entries. "Or do you have to psyche yourself up/Madonna style prayer huddle? I think it would help the readers if we knew."

We all have our own styles, Andrew. Ingle prefers a rigorous warm-up, for example cycling the course before the riders themselves; Smyth, famously, likes to indulge in a can of Relentless or seven before his stint; Bull nervously pops off for a fag both before, during, and after the first over of every day; Glendenning takes his anxiety out on his inferiors; Lutz uses humour to keep the troops' morale high; Dart tends to do most of the work for us; Doyle pops his earphones on and psyches himself up with a bit of Beyonce; and Bandini casually kicks back and soaks it all up James Richardson-style with a copy of Gazzetta della Sport and a knickerbocker glory. I myself, of course, prefer to log onto my computer in advance, diligently conducting research before each and every venture into the public realm.

The story so far Well, I got up at just after 8.30am, had a quick shower, stood waiting for a tube on the district line for about 10 minutes, staggered to GU Towers at 9.59am (a minute early!), switched on my computer ... oh, sorry, the story of the race so far. Well, (MBM reporter scours the internet briefly because he doesn't understand the German presenter on not-British Eurosport) Frenchman Nicolos Vogondy, the new virtual leader of the Tour, and rookie Matthieu Ladagnous broke free from the peloton after about 6km, and by the time they reached the Belgium-French border 41km away, they were11 minutes clear. However, that gap is now down to nine minutes.

Preamble Afternoon everybody. The cyclists have already been pedalling away for more than two-and-a-half hours, but here at GU Towers we are a little more workshy - hence the late start. Today's third stage is the longest of the Tour, beginning in the Belgian town of Waregem, and ending 236.5km (or 147 miles, if you prefer) away in Compiegne in France. However, the course is flatter than this preamble (there is one grade four climb after 202km) so we can expect another mass sprint finish as on the last two days.